Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Re: Group meals and social networking in commun

[Harry Pasternak (Harry_Pasternak]

Rob

I don't doubt that you see what you see when you visit other comunities as
well as what you perceive in your own community--but, that's why an
"objective" third party researcher is necessary, to carry through with a
valid scientific study. 
Have you invited one to do a study in your community?

The information I presented in a summary of Jan Gehl's research (and others)
in the field of "social networking" in neighborhoods done over the last 38
years ).

I would be interesting in volunteering my time in working with a local
university or college to do a comparative scientific study-- comparing your
neighborhood with another that incorporates the criteria that I have
presented.

Wouldn't it be a shame, that later on down the road--to find out that the
intentional cohousing neighborhoods being built now --end up isolating people
and inhibiting contact rather than promoting contact? Wouldn't it be a
positive step to double the social contact people have (or triple it--isn't
this what cohousing is all about?) by incorporating the information
presented? Of course you would contact Gehl and others to verify the
information first.
 p.s. I not suggesting that people stop have large group activities together
( like having  meals) just a call for a reliance on well proven "natural"
approach.

Harry Pasternak
Unpaid Volunteer For D.I.Y.'s Who Need Info On Designing and Building 
Affordable,Frugal Supportive Neighborhoods, Who Works At:
Thousand Islands Institute
The Independent Centre For Housing Research & Education
(Harry_Pasternak [at] tvo.org)

- sent via an evaluation copy of BulkRate (unregistered).